Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-01-08
ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL.
Meeting of the Guild Yesterday After
neon--EiectiOn of On1cers--Secre-
tary's Report for Two Years.


tary's Report for Two Years.
Thesexecutive guild of St. Luke's hos.
pital met at the Harper house yesterday
afternoon, and after electing the follows
ing officers, an adjournment was taken
until next Friday, when it is hoped a
larger attendance will be present, as the
matter of raising funds to continue the
work OF the hospital will then come up:
Presdent-Mrs c. Lynde.
Vice Presidents Mrs. Jonas Bear, Mrs.
J. NJ. Buford, of Rock Island; and Mrs
A. C. Grout, of Moline
Secretary-Mrs. VIM. Hoffman.
Treasurer-Mrs. G. L. Eyster.
Mrs. Hoffman read her report as sec
retary, showing the history of ST. Luke's
hospital for the two years of its existence,
and it is here given in full:
The hospital was opened on Nov. 20,
1884. The sum of 5000 was subscribed
by the following persons to start the en-
terprise: Capt Robinson, Messrs. Skin
ner, Lynde, Harper, Reynolds, Weyer
hauser & Denkman, Rock Island Lumber
Co, Morris Rosenfelder, J. S. Gilmore,
Emil koehler, J w. Browne, and Mrs.
Judge Spencer and Mrs Bishop Lee.
Besides this money, bedding, furniture,
stoves and other useful articles were
donated by the citizens of Rock Island
and Moline, and no small interest was
manifested in lhe undertaking. In Feb
ruarv 1855, the hospital was regularly
incorporated and passed into the hands
of a board Of trustees, elected for that
purpose. They called meeting Of the
ladies of The two cities, placing IN their
hands the business of raising money and
looking after the interests of the hospital
subject to the bylaws of the hospital
association The ladies at once organ
lied a hospital guild of about forty>tive
members, aad chose a president, vice
presidents secretary and treasurer, and
appointed an executive board. Under
this organization the hospital has re-
manned
The first year an entertainment IN
Harper's Theatre was given TO raise
funds to carry on the work, and other
material aid was solicited and obtained.
In October, 1885, the city was distiicted
and canvassed to secure, in small sums,
sufficient money to support the hospital
for one year The effort was quite suc>
cessful, made by the following ladies,
who volunteered their services as cam
vassers and collectors: Mesdames Jonas
Bear, c. Lynde, H Schmidt. WIN. Jack
son, Z. w. Hurst, T. J. Buford. J.. III
Buford, E. Reynolds, D. 7. Robinson,
Phil. Mitchell, Ed. Spencer. J. J. Reimers,
William Hoffman, and the Misses Carter,
Huber and Denkman. The ladies of
Moline have been equally successful with
those of Rock Island in soliciting money
and groceries. During these two years
unsolicited donations of money (notably
5000 from Mr. r. r. Cable), groceries
fruits, flowers and reading matter, have
been generously made by citizens of both
cities. Two rooms were nicely furnished
in the hospital for pay patients. one by
| the ladies' of Moline, the other by those
of Rock Island.
Since the hospital was opened there
have boon received seventy seven pa
lents. of these four have died, and
nearly all the others have been discharg-
ed cured Among the patients there
have been several who have been able to
| pay for their board, and some whose
board has been partly paid for. The
county has taken care of few, and
others have been entirely free patients.
As the hospital is not a self sustaining
institution the fact is patent that money
Is needed from some source te carry il
on. But it is free to all in the sense OF
receiving medical treatment medicine:
and nursing. gratis. The board of ply
siciars have freely given their valuable
services, and Mrs. Gray has proved {
most efficient and trustworthy nurse
II seems to be clearly demonstrated thai
a hospital is much needed in our midst
and it will be reproach to the two
cities. if for lack of funds and interest
the hospital is suffered to die out Fol
lowing is the financial statement for tn,
past two years: Received from patients
board, including the sum Of $27a paid b,
the c, B. & Q, road for Mr.
Harris, 1881 81: received from th,
county. s15799; from collections
S1,17S4s from unsolicited donations
S29S; from an entertainment, S612
Total, S3,12776. On hand OF
Jan. 4, 1857, $375.76